Post by: P@Q on March 11, 2020, 09:47:39 AM
Post by: NinjaBob on March 11, 2020, 09:58:35 AM
https://ridemsta.com/map-browser/?gpx=Shady%20Valley%20short%20loop.gpx (https://ridemsta.com/map-browser/?gpx=Shady%20Valley%20short%20loop.gpx)
Post by: doug mcpeek on March 11, 2020, 02:27:30 PM
Post by: STLTHMSTA on March 11, 2020, 05:32:32 PM
Post by: HawkGTRider on March 11, 2020, 09:27:03 PM
Post by: stevegrab on March 24, 2020, 02:42:24 PM
We all need to remember, these are public roads with others on them, not a road closed off for our entertainment.
Post by: Brick on March 25, 2020, 08:23:13 PM
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Post by: stevegrab on March 27, 2020, 01:23:20 PM
Gonna ride it tomorrow!Lucky dog...
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Post by: HawkGTRider on April 02, 2020, 09:56:36 PM
I suppose one of these days someone is going to call the Cherohala Skyway as something else. I have news for that person...Cherohala Skyway IS the name/nickname given the road by the States of Tennessee and North Carolina (it's a portmanteau based on Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests).
Any thoughts?
Post by: Brick on April 02, 2020, 10:22:53 PM
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Post by: stevegrab on April 03, 2020, 04:48:35 PM
I haven't been riding in that area as long as some of you, but I do recall enjoying the Snake (US421) before it had that name. It was part of one of my favorite short loops from the TriSTAR event site, US58 from Volney into Damascus, then the road to Shady Valley thru Backbone Rock, then 421. Then 91 back to Damascus and back 58.
Dang I'd love to be at the Allegheny Inn now for a few days and riding that area :(
Post by: Brick on April 03, 2020, 05:30:49 PM
Our NE Ohio group was riding at one of the rallies in the south east, we had just finished a run on some really fun road. At the next stop one of our group says to me, "that road needs a nickname". I thought NOO that will ruin it.Steve I agree completely!
I haven't been riding in that area as long as some of you, but I do recall enjoying the Snake (US421) before it had that name. It was part of one of my favorite short loops from the TriSTAR event site, US58 from Volney into Damascus, then the road to Shady Valley thru Backbone Rock, then 421. Then 91 back to Damascus and back 58.
Dang I'd love to be at the Allegheny Inn now for a few days and riding that area :(
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Post by: NinjaBob on April 03, 2020, 07:38:14 PM
Post by: Brick on April 03, 2020, 08:28:04 PM
They won't come up with a nickname for one of my favorite roads 8n the area because they can't compete with the real name. WAR WOMAN ROAD!
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Post by: Patmo on April 04, 2020, 07:45:32 AM
Post by: RIDEMYST on April 04, 2020, 08:05:07 AM
Post by: Brick on April 04, 2020, 10:50:42 AM
We don't have these kind of problems with our roads in Florida! :(
Jim year’s ago you showed me both the curves you have down there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: HawkGTRider on April 04, 2020, 05:18:13 PM
Our NE Ohio group was riding at one of the rallies in the south east, we had just finished a run on some really fun road. At the next stop one of our group says to me, "that road needs a nickname". I thought NOO that will ruin it.
I haven't been riding in that area as long as some of you, but I do recall enjoying the Snake (US421) before it had that name. It was part of one of my favorite short loops from the TriSTAR event site, US58 from Volney into Damascus, then the road to Shady Valley thru Backbone Rock, then 421. Then 91 back to Damascus and back 58.
Dang I'd love to be at the Allegheny Inn now for a few days and riding that area :(
TriSTAR isn't officially canceled yet (not saying one way or the other yet)..I still have my reservation. So...you may be able to come down to Sparta at the end of May to get your spring started with plenty of curvy roads. If the governors of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia decide it's ok for restaurants to open, it could still happen. Alas, I don't see how we could expect folks to arrive for a weekend if restaurants are still closed except for carry out (Sparta doesn't have that many options under the best of circumstances). So I'm waiting for all those big dogs to decide what they think is ok. If restaurants are accessible, I'm ok with people deciding for themselves what level of exposure they're willing to accept.
Post by: RichGrab on April 05, 2020, 09:47:18 AM
Post by: stevegrab on April 06, 2020, 08:21:51 AM
16 has the nickname “back of the dragon” and 58 is known as “the crooked road”. But I’ve never found either of them to be overrun with other riders, and they haven’t yet become destination rides. And that’s a GOOD thing.Neither one seems to have the full blown treatment with a store of some kind serving as the home base. I recall 10-15 years ago riding 58 from Damascus end towards Volney heading to Tri-Star and my friend and I were passed by a rather aggressive group of sport bike riders. They appeared to be locals not people out touring. Don't usually see a ton of bikes on either road though.
One of my favorites here in NE Ohio doesn't have a name but I refer to it as The Rollercoaster, because of its many curves and hills. I doubt it will ever catch on ;)
Post by: stevegrab on April 06, 2020, 08:32:58 AM
We shall see, it is one of my favorite regional events. But things are too uncertain now for me (and many others) to commit to any sort of event or travel. If things get back to normal by then we'll see. Big question might be getting time off work, things are slow now (requiring as furlough days) but that could change once business re-open. If things are still not normal then there will be no travel to distant lands for riding fun. Also while some of those states may return to normal others won't, making travel from/thru those "stay at home" states difficult.Our NE Ohio group was riding at one of the rallies in the south east, we had just finished a run on some really fun road. At the next stop one of our group says to me, "that road needs a nickname". I thought NOO that will ruin it.
I haven't been riding in that area as long as some of you, but I do recall enjoying the Snake (US421) before it had that name. It was part of one of my favorite short loops from the TriSTAR event site, US58 from Volney into Damascus, then the road to Shady Valley thru Backbone Rock, then 421. Then 91 back to Damascus and back 58.
Dang I'd love to be at the Allegheny Inn now for a few days and riding that area :(
TriSTAR isn't officially canceled yet (not saying one way or the other yet)..I still have my reservation. So...you may be able to come down to Sparta at the end of May to get your spring started with plenty of curvy roads. If the governors of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia decide it's ok for restaurants to open, it could still happen. Alas, I don't see how we could expect folks to arrive for a weekend if restaurants are still closed except for carry out (Sparta doesn't have that many options under the best of circumstances). So I'm waiting for all those big dogs to decide what they think is ok. If restaurants are accessible, I'm ok with people deciding for themselves what level of exposure they're willing to accept.
I'm not at any particular high risk but I am leaning towards caution with this.
Post by: HawkGTRider on April 07, 2020, 07:12:03 AM
The folks in North Carolina and Virginia are taking a somewhat harder line on this than we are here in Tennessee. You've probably seen pictures of barriers on US129 stopping people from entering Graham County (Robbinsville) and at the state line on the Cherohala Skyway. We'll see. The manager knows I need to make a call before we get too far into May...look for a decision/announcement the first week of May.
Post by: stevegrab on April 07, 2020, 03:49:32 PM
https://www.wbir.com/article/news/graham-county-shuts-down-closing-off-access-to-cherohala-skyway/51-8a66e0e4-59a6-4c51-81fc-904f49f973fa
I also saw it mentioned on the Tail of the Dragon website, copied below
From tailofthedragon.com home page
Sunday March 29, 2020
SUNDAY Graham County North Carolina has set-up roadblocks/checkpoints on US129, NC28, and the Cherohala Skyway near the county lines. Only Graham County residents are allowed to enter at these checkpoints.
THE DRAGON IS OPEN
There is no access to the Dragon from North Carolina. There is no problem coming from the Tennessee side.
Post by: Ride4MS on April 15, 2020, 08:55:01 PM
Post by: HawkGTRider on April 16, 2020, 09:35:23 AM
Post by: Stretch on April 26, 2020, 07:02:37 PM
They won't come up with a nickname for one of my favorite roads 8n the area because they can't compete with the real name. WAR WOMAN ROAD!War Woman Road is a fine road and in that area is Double Island Rd.
People ask me if I've ridden the Snake, Back of the Dragon, Moonshiner..... Huh? Gimmie a highway number.
Usually at the end of one of those silly named roads is a gift shop/restaurant. Same thing is happening here in KY.
Your best bet is to ride them before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. If you can't do that then sometime Monday through Thursday. Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday mornings are just motorcycle shows.